Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Coffee, tea or bikini? VietJet stands by racy calendar amid criticisms

PHOTO: Vietnam's VietJet Aviation "bikini" calendar, a marketing ploy featuring scantily clad female models.
VietJet said on Thursday it was standing by a controversial "bikini" calendar, a marketing ploy featuring scantily clad female models that has prompted criticism in conservative Southeast Asia and beyond.
PHOTO: VietJet
Picture posted by Reuters on 29 December 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZMCm8NhLysZp4JCLl1E3sclI8QxWbRdIeV702eTW_EH8tZF18sj8Pb2M9qm74d4OS2_8Ua7jAqCeWNh2B1TF1g7R2re724GW-AZo8S2a98cx5MlyVOAF1IksFqUqFw51KDWB8a74kVw/s1600/vietjet2018_1.jpg
http://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/moments/Dec2017/vietjet2018_1.jpg
http://www.asiaone.com/travel/coffee-tea-or-bikini-vietjet-stands-racy-calendar-amid-criticisms


HANOI/SINGAPORE - Vietnam's VietJet Aviation said on Thursday (Dec 28) it was standing by a controversial "bikini" calendar, a marketing ploy featuring scantily clad female models that has prompted criticism in conservative South-east Asia and beyond.

The annual calendar, which has gone viral online, is part of a broader marketing push by VietJet that has propelled the start-up airline's rapid growth, as it has taken market share from Vietnam Airlines.


Coffee, tea or bikini? #VietJet stands by racy calendar
PHOTO: Coffee, tea or bikini? #VietJet stands by racy calendar
Picture from VietJet Facebook
Picture posted by New Straits Times,  @NST_Online on 28 Decwmber 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJ1muhCtqvBvq36NFgeaxKrKDDgKr0TGqTzHJTW2HwH_4x2migDdbuT-5-hLkP3S-8DxykqnxsyjtTGYPmo7LuHV25amoHyrGTj4t6OlhWAp3oZ6mHq7AYUC8o-9ZWErNG_OrQe8fwlQ/s1600/DSIquckUMAAwxYJ.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSIquckUMAAwxYJ.jpg
https://twitter.com/hashtag/vietjet


The publication of the 2018 calendar - which critics say overly sexualises the image of flight attendants and other airline staff - comes as there is a growing debate in the global airlines industry about sexual harassment and in-flight assault of both passengers and employees.

VietJet, founded by Ms Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao - Vietnam's first female billionaire and one of a handful of women running a major airline globally - said the calendar emphasised the free choice of people to wear whatever they wanted.


VietJet was founded by Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietnam's first female billionaire.
PHOTO: VietJet was founded by Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietnam's first female billionaire.
Photo: KHAM
Picture posted by Reuter in The Sydney Morning Herald on 28 December 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-UOYHfYMuXoZmdEP875WhUYjKHausEZDi4vkIgkbCcUQ5xPRCkSOBex6qNJgKeG0A_l8LbxVM2TpKBcQNKYSyrjoBylhBUcT0ZqfKnH3rBIvr-oEIy4w3yqHobal3cX6xwPrnUlyOgo/s1600/1514494906224-1.jpg
https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/h/0/b/5/a/5/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.p4yy3d.png/1514494906224.jpg
http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/coffee-tea-or-bikini-airline-vietjet-stands-by-racy-calendar-in-face-of-criticism-20171228-p4yy3d.html


"We are not upset when people associate us with the bikini image. If that makes people delighted and happy, then we'll be happy," Mr Luu Duc Khanh, VietJet's managing director, said in e-mailed comments to Reuters.

When asked about the views of Ms Thao, Mr Khanh said the CEO thought people "have the right to wear whatever they like, bikini or traditional ao dai", referring to the traditional Vietnamese long dress.

Ms Thao was unavailable for an interview.


VietJet 2018 'bikini' calendar
PHOTO: VietJet 2018 "bikini" calendar
The calendar emphasised the free choice of people to wear whatever they wanted.
Picture posted by sohucs.com on 17 December 2017 at14:54
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOzs-rWIkLGLzyTxKWG0i-oHNoIN8cUaVoTzzzyPx_ZQXW4eVSkCa68O8_bWGylMLlW-epe48k4kj1-shoYzPX75KSzQ2v54wBPq6tDX9G9FgE14eXtwjQNWaexfsv73AsG525Z7FJXQ/s1600/924f57c7d8884dd18716ffa2f8e33363-1.png
http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171217/924f57c7d8884dd18716ffa2f8e33363.jpeg
http://www.sohu.com/a/211030366_100022833


BACK IN TIME
The calendar has caused an online storm in Vietnam, with some people criticising and others defending the campaign. The 2018 calendar and a YouTube video of the photo shoot have been viewed more than 910,000 times since first appearing at the end of last month.

"I think (the calendar) is beautiful, not unpleasant at all," one user posted on Facebook under the avatar Mai Co. Another person, named as Van Nhi, said the airline was "creating scandal to gain attention". "It's getting more unpleasant."


VietJet 2018 'bikini' calendar
PHOTO: VietJet 2018 "bikini" calendar
The calendar has caused an online storm in Vietnam, with some people criticising and others defending the campaign.
Picture posted by sohucs.com on 17 December 2017 at14:54
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWKIxfVq_mQ1hf_2L7vYJT3cycX2TPhA62tHXukjgU2YOZNADLHF9spDGeqphZ8_R0XURa54zuoBNVJ-3Qwb9Q-UVGPCmBw0wNF-TnOaLOD7syDWnOAWyKiH-W1wkWCSLs0r_TjI9M64/s1600/924f57c7d8884dd18716ffa2f8e33363-2.jpg
http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171217/924f57c7d8884dd18716ffa2f8e33363.jpeg
http://www.sohu.com/a/211030366_100022833


Critics say VietJet's risque marketing, including the calendar and bikini fashion shows on board planes, presented an archaic and sexist image of cabin crew, even as the risk of harassment and assault go widely underreported.

VietJet is "taking us back 50 years by hyper-sexualising a female dominated work group in order to make a few bucks off a couple of cheesy calendars", said Ms Heather Poole, a veteran US flight attendant and author of a book about working the not-always-friendly skies.


Critics say VietJet's risque marketing, including the calendar and bikini fashion shows on board planes, presented an archaic and sexist image of cabin crew.
PHOTO: Critics say VietJet's risque marketing, including the calendar and bikini fashion shows on board planes, presented an archaic and sexist image of cabin crew.
Picture posted by sohucs.com on 17 December 2017 at14:54
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEh9JFoCcnftRz23UsgMvKD-i5sivy7R6rRsb43WWhsKKG2V1Be3An3rnfyNvboJBo6ew-6pKPc0xz0sn7pH0OD8nbO9JWLfHyoLwfezXEvREhRThx90VnmRwkXZtCX_WQ6FXTdZaGitI/s1600/4fcf7da99d5a4c70afd05a91d43f2ac8.jpeg
http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171217/4fcf7da99d5a4c70afd05a91d43f2ac8.jpeg
http://www.sohu.com/a/211030366_100022833


"Women have to work so hard to be taken seriously, and in this case it's a woman in charge taking us back to the days of 'Coffee, Tea or Me?'," she added, alluding to a 1960s book about two fictitious female flight attendants that emphasised their sexual appetite.

Mr Khanh said Vietjet flight attendants have been trained to handle sexual harassment situations.


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
PHOTO: Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
This ‘Bikini Airline’ is Going to Create Vietnam’s First Female Billionaire. [2]
Picture posted by vietjettravel on 28July 2016
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYbQY_O4bGWBkDy68WlfSNrxys7ADYgNor5o21fAY-9WM_iElORYx_354hdRE4X9j4l8T_AFbUczDAtCYGeK2gdm_Aau5I1HySyufPzh-ZMotahgdeP40jVR_gEI03RrsIHglDtfRAmE/s1600/VietjetAir800x499-1.jpg
http://vietjettravel.vn/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/VietjetAir800x499.jpg
http://vietjettravel.vn/mua-ve-may-bay-di-da-nang-gia-re-vietjet.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/12/are-airasia-firefly-stewardesses.html


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
A Vietnamese entrepreneur who has made a fortune by staffing an airline with women in sexy bikini attire is on her way to becoming Vietnam’s first female billionaire. VietJet Air CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao’s idea of dressing up the airline’s flight attendants with sexy outfits is about to pay off big time. [2]
Picture posted by taringa.net
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhashPVbSgrDoUi6DAntn_jdVjImFxbFnjhZ-cM-iI4BL39rY_nGOVuAOrRtTnLwby7uItAHSOLN6o2fnW-edJaF0rPbCrtD9oQufEKEabPnqvNVNatN1pzGIaZ0c7iIIMMpQ96Dx64w8/s1600/8ED.jpg
https://k60.kn3.net/taringa/1/6/E/1/0/9/DreppColins/8ED.jpg
https://www.taringa.net/posts/offtopic/19425665/Azafatas-en-bikini-Viajar-es-un-Placer.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/12/are-airasia-firefly-stewardesses.html


VietJet is not the first firm to use racy calendars to raise its profile. Italian tyre maker Pirelli - known for its calendars of glamorous female models - has overhauled the annual offering in recent years with less of a focus on nudity.

Irish budget carrier Ryanair Holdings in 2014 scrapped an annual charity calendar featuring female cabin crew posing in bikinis in favour of more family-friendly images.


VietJet is not the first firm to use racy calendars to raise its profile. Italian tyre maker Pirelli - known for its calendars of glamorous female models.
PHOTO: VietJet is not the first firm to use racy calendars to raise its profile. Italian tyre maker Pirelli - known for its calendars of glamorous female models.
Picture posted in pinterest - Miranda Kerr - Making Pirelli Calendar
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLM5kcS9PJHSflrWvaUkxa2LoZCegk7aHfoX8rKR1tjsLwTWWjXrC5I8oxoa3kIvDNEVLrEi-lL4aFfJabqY2ufgKroQOvDuV-l6wBqc8dQFLIGT3Trs8eR_oN6FGvbnISzHso8ieL1EI/s1600/b8da528079d0ebdfd726ba1972afb59c.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b8/da/52/b8da528079d0ebdfd726ba1972afb59c.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481111172663158240/?lp=true


Mr Khanh, who said the proceeds from sales of the VietJet calendar go to charity, acknowledged that there could be big changes in the content for the next version.

"Male models is a good idea for us to introduce in our calendars next year," he said.


Irish budget carrier Ryanair featuring female cabin crew posing in bikinis.
PHOTO: Irish budget carrier Ryanair featuring female cabin crew posing in bikinis.
Picture posted by The Aviators @BsAeronautics on 8 February 2015 at 5:21 AM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXNPd8Ml2e7tK8v-QoS-bHMSQAGbdjhQwZRpU6q8z-xMhVDeh3py2mbcjVXGIpWI4adUAdhwtsbHBj2zlqaqLmNo1LKs5sY8GmxtHioIbJNwI4_Jx1xyRvYQzNyPkj5NbWkz1umODeu0/s1600/B9UzYlXCMAEiEtB.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9UzYlXCMAEiEtB.jpg
https://twitter.com/bsaeronautics/status/564413827232440320


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
According to the Bloomberg, the 45-year-old’s fortune was expected to balloon to $1.37 billion when the privately-owned airline goes public within three months. Thanks to Thao’s idea, the company has grabbed more than 30% of Vietnam’s airline market share in just a few years. [2]
Picture posted by powerapple.com (超级苹果网) on 29 July 2017 at 20:08
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q6f50qg7zgkFwi4rdjdFtuVfUVg29wavpjrwkHeCi69LDMlU6lHSho2gF_UJkDiC8Xwk9EuqcMPfpHsVUQqG_-mcr292novMN8k027vS6xcN4Q2sSBHUaW9tjsp2oXFW2R_FJkOA3qE/s1600/1501336214_368917-1.png
https://cdn1.powerapple.com/upload/news/article_attachments/file/2017210/1501336214_368917.jpg
https://www.powerapple.com/news/shi-zheng-jiao-dian/2017/7/30/2942974.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/12/are-airasia-firefly-stewardesses.html


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess
The brilliance of the company’s campaign, which boasts the motto “Enjoy Flying!”, is further highlighted by its very effective marketing tool: steamy calendars featuring the sexy attendants. [2]
Picture posted by Sebastian Strangio@sstrangio on 29 March 2016 at 5:56 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IKzUuD2gLGLa1pT4CXpRrWC8HvP84ytY-xxQolgFzw4iImZxEjxOmISayh3p7PW21RWraM88BKc6OgTvtx1kNJ7jI4OmrM7F-VVVN8-MiGYL06rYDgaMdpBRYcBrUWxZ312xG4fnNy0/s1600/Cet45wKXEAAyjlX.jpg+large-1.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cet45wKXEAAyjlX.jpg:large
https://twitter.com/sstrangio/status/714798286066950144
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/12/are-airasia-firefly-stewardesses.html


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
On August 5, private budget carrier VietJet Air (VJA) organized a bikini show “a Hawaiian dance performance” on its maiden flight from Ho Chi Minh City to the coastal city of Nha Trang with the participation of five attractive girls who were contestants of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao.
Picture posted by sohu.com on 31 October 2017 at 09:34
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPQGWF3j513tGtcI1eXM0_-zuFHyrMSH5wzkEdU_858_jdL9nxePdlpyBXogZl4dDyOlVJAfxa6dINX8AtDCwbFcIS1RDfLywti9RZ7LVUdynuTPcLtsQpDgb03BA9azt2J12dAhKB_0/s1600/ece75dfc0b5249b6ad1c5087e6556b56.jpeg
http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171031/ece75dfc0b5249b6ad1c5087e6556b56.jpeg
http://www.sohu.com/a/201322882_457614


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant
VIETJET AIR launches Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang flight on 03 August 2012, reportedly fined 20 million Vietnamese dong (USD $1000) for organizing a cool dance on the plane without permission.
Picture posted by panoramio.com
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFX9b0YhJ8-1BwK9-MCD15qclHwdD5RjPduC-ls6MhOw_h_rJNz1CdTpKP_iGnvTFUliEmmeiuhu4KKgqh9mbmDHycYkls3WAs8D0SLJQ936I99z9fPXqRxHqR4PVKYgtye6-pEA1GwU/s1600/76785464.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/76785464.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/76785464


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant
The $1,000 fine on VietJet Air for hosting a bikini show on its flight had raised eyebrows.
Picture posted by panoramio.com
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_PRJBk183psUBEyQi8iEIQdLRwacc_dKXKq7ASkb24oLsVSOPcJZCAl77_1DDSI9DW6twpUF_cMSt0gDVFfAGH0CIFMcS8clSvtrq98DRF90EcEMzZcCm55GvFS57hdobUjSSdgu9-8/s1600/76785464-1.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/76785464.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/76785464


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
Bikini fashion shows on board planes, presented an archaic early period of art or culture, and sexist side of cabin crew.
Picture posted by sohu.com on 31 October 2017 at 09:34
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_DWAvgKFPTJ9C54zyf_qJ5zc6Bmdq7sQopED-8WiyQZUs0LpwT6vsAFk5NHz0nrQxWCxwU-gEcHEwXRAo9eC_lH1id2FvaP6F7JP8Zgs4J5Z6VsIx7cvlpGvfa-ci8gy5l7kv85OQn0/s1600/ece75dfc0b5249b6ad1c5087e6556b56-1.jpeg
http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171031/ece75dfc0b5249b6ad1c5087e6556b56.jpeg
http://www.sohu.com/a/201322882_457614


Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
PHOTO:  Vietjet Air Sexy Stewardess, contestant of a local beauty pageant, Miss Ngoi Sao
According to the carrier, since the flight went to a coastal city, the performance was just a “bonus service” to spread an atmosphere of vacation to VJA’s passengers and the performers were not wearing indecent costumes. They had bikini-tops and long skirts instead, the representative explained.
Almost all customers on the plane that day said they were not bothered by the performance and supported the carrier in holding similar dancing shows on future flights, the airliner added.
Picture posted by Quỳnh Anh on Wednesday, 08/ August 2012 at 18:03
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7RY84UcJfp13zhipSw4Vmf8loxgDuJDUVZ-iZLLLrZs6Jrc1uC_DEaFZk-IC8Tl3HrTvZ-X3LlIWMaAFJYu3J3rg3r8T9b5Npqf-5nS5IikrRMiR72GQMZJRii34Z9iCU_mZjym_9TQ/s1600/VJA3-a483c.jpg
https://dantricdn.com/thumb_w/600/zBWMWGSUq5Jhg0bdkuZf/File/VJA3-a483c.jpg
http://dantri.com.vn/su-kien/vietetair-bi-phat-vi-dien-bikini-tren-may-bay-1344813249.htm

By Reuters, 29 December 2017



Reference
[1] Reuters, Coffee, tea or bikini? VietJet stands by racy calendar amid criticisms, posted on 29 December 2017, http://www.asiaone.com/travel/coffee-tea-or-bikini-vietjet-stands-racy-calendar-amid-criticisms

[2] Ryan General, This ‘Bikini Airline’ is Going to Create Vietnam’s First Female Billionaire, posted on 28 March 2016, https://nextshark.com/vietjet-air-nguyen-thi-phuong-thao-billionaire/

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